The Dillon tribune., 1887-10-28
A MODEL MILLIONAIRE.

A MODEL MILLIONAIRE.
Unless one is wealthy there is no good
in being charming fellow. Romance Il
the privilege % the rich, not the profession
Of the unemployed. The poor should be
practical and prosaic. 1t is better to have
Il permanent income than to be fascila-
ting. These are the great truths of mod
crn life which Hughic Erskinc never
realized. Poor Hughic. Intellectually,
we must admit, he was not of much impor-
tance. lie never said either a brilliant or
an i'll naturc'l thing in his life. But then
he was wonderfully good looking, with
his crisp brown hair, his clear cut profile,
and his gray eyes. He was as popular
with men as he was with women, and he
had every accomplishment except that OF
making money. His father had be-
queathed him his cavalry sword and .
History Of tho Peninsular War; in fifteen
volumes. IIughie hung the first over his
looking glass, 1pt the second on shelf
between Ruff's Guide and Baily's Maga-
zinc, and lived on e2OO year1that TN old
aunt allowed him. He had tried every.
thing. He had gone on the stock exchange
for six months; but what was butterfly
to do among bulls aud bears? He had
been tea merchant for little longer,
but had soon tired Of Pckoe and Sou
chong Then he had tried selling dry
sherry. That did not answer. Ultimately
he became nothing, q delightful, Intellectual
young man with a perfect profile and no
profession.
To make matters worse, he was in love.
The girl he loved was Laura Merton. the
daughter of retired colonel who had lost
his temper and his digestion in India, and
had never found either of them again.
Laura adored him, and he was ready to
kiss her s.locstrings. They were the
handsomest couple in London, and haI
not penny piece between them. The
colonel was very fond Of Hughic, but
would not hear of any engagement.
"COme to me, my boy, when you have
got e1O, 600 of your own, and VIC will SEQ
about it," he used to say; and Hughie
looked very glum ON those days, and had
to 90 to Laura for consolation.
One morning, as he was on his way to
Holland Park, where the Mertons lived,
he dropped in to see a great friend of his,
Alan Trevor. Trevor was painter. In
deed, few people escape that nowadays.
But he was also an artist, and artists are
rather rare. Personally he was strange,
rough fellow, with q freckled face and
red hair. However, when he took up the
brush he was a real master, and his
pictures were eagerly sought after. He
had been very much attracted by Hughie,
at first, it must be acknowledged, en-.
tirely on account of his good looks. "The
only people u painter should know" he
used to say, ''are people who are bette and
beautiful, people who are an artistic
pleasure to look at and an intellectual re-
pose to talk to- Dandies and darlings
rule the worldr' However, after he got
to know Hughie better, he liked him quite
as much for his bright, buoyant spirits
and his generous, reckless nature, and
had given him the permanent cntrec to
his studio.
When Hughie came in he found Trevor
putting the finishing touches to a wonder
full life size picture Of beggar man. Tho
beggar himself was standing on raised
platform in Il corner of the studio. He
was wizened old man, with Il face like
wrinkled parchment, and a most piteous
expression. Over his shoulders was flung
coarse brown cloak, all tears and tat.
ters; his thick boots were patched and
cobbleti. and with one hand he leaned on
Q rough stick, while with the other he
held out his battered hat for aims.
"Wha, an amazing 1nodelr' whispered
Hughic, AS he shook hands with his friend.
IAN amazing model:' shouted Trevor
Mt the top Of his voice; Il should think
so! Such heggurs as he arc not to be met
with every day. A trouvail!e. mon cher:
u living Velasquez! My stars. what an
etching Rembrandt would have made Of
him!''
Poor old chap!' said Hughie, chow
miserable he looks! But I suppose, to
you painters, his face is his fortunc:''
"Certainly,' replied Trevor; 'you
don't want heggar to look happy, do
you?'
"How much does model get for sit.
ting:" asked Hughie, as he found himself
n comfortable seat on n divan.
IA shilling IN hour
"And how much do you get for your
picture, Alan:"
20, for this get thousand.
"Guineas. Painters, poets and physi.
clans always get guincas.''
"Well, think the model should have Il
percentage" said Hughic. laughing:
''they work quite as hard as yo;, do"
Nonsense, nonsense! Why. look at tho
trouble Of laying on the paint alone and
standing all day long at ones easel! It's
all very well, Hughie, for you to talk, but
I assure you that there are moments
when art approaches the dignity Of man.
uni labor. But YOU mustn't chatter: I'm
very busy. Smoke Il cigarette and keep
quiet
After some time the servant came in
and tot! Trevor that the frame maker
wanted to speak to him.
Don't run away. Hughic," he said, as
he went out. II will be back in q mo-
mcnt.''
The old heggar man took advantage of